Nix promotion not popular, but definitely sensible

Why else would he have left being the No. 2 guy in San Diego to become “national scout” for the bills. If I’m a 70 year old, I’d stick it out in San Diego unless I was going to get my first GM job ever. Buffalo winters are a little rougher on the ole bones. :)

Not impressed and very disappointed……..

Either Marty or Brian? I know they are very close.

The guy comes from a team in which he was one of the top guys who helped build a decade long winner. People will remember the San Diego Chargers of the 2000s when they look back at the decade of football. This is the proper GM hire. An experienced guy in terms of building a team but a guy from the outside who can bring a different culture from a winner and a guy who is getting his first shot to be the captain – that helps with the intensity level for the entire team IMO, brings energy and motivation.

I also think his older age is a big plus for us going after a big name coach. A young guy getting his first gig would be a more likely scenario for an ego clash with a big name coach – being threatened by the big name coaches power would likely make a young first time GM avoid a big name guy in the search process. An older, wiser and more experienced GM is far less likely to get involved in a petty ego battle or let that steer him away from a big name coach.

For now, I like the move. But that doesn’t matter. Lets see what happens.

I don’t hate the Nix thing as much as I hate the Brandon promotion. I don’t want Brandon anywhere near Nix’s decisions.

this man is accomplished and has a chance to turn this thing around … he seems to have the right idea about hiring a coach with experience

My favorite part of his presser was when he said it himself that it doesn’t MATTER how big of a splash you make, all that matters is if you’re winning down the road.

so…not Haslett please. While Cowher would be the dream candidate, Schottenheimer is likely the only one left. Regardless of who it is, I hope its someone who is creative on offense, or bring in a good coordinator. I’m tired of seeing this popgun offense.

If Cowher is to come here, tell him to bring Mike Miller/Russ Grimm as our OC.

Has A good background.

John Clayton was just on WGR550, and said there is a chance Nix could talk Schottenheimer into coming back to coach.

Main reason is that Nix already knows the players, and as a recognized, excellent talent evaluator, it’s doubtful he will “blow up” the team and start over… Granted, a lot will depend on his HC hire, but as I’ve said before, I don’t think the Bills are far from being able to compete with the best of them, and for me anyway, I was not looking forward to a 3-4 yr rebuild…
Also, in his presser, he noted the injuries as a major problem. Again, I beleive it’s something that can be fixed by training and coaching and it was a relief to her him echo that sentiment (or almost)…

I’ll be okay with this, as long as we bring in a proven winner. This team doesn’t need another Jim Haslett, Mike Zimmer, Leslie Frazier etc. type of HC. We need somebody that has been there and done that and Bill Cowher fits that description.

Let’s review…

Buffalo can now chase the top guys on their head coaching list

Can we agree that we should see a “big” name here than. Someone that is not an internal hire?

This was not an internal hire.

Um… ENOUGH! It completely was an internal hire! I don’t care if the guy has been here a year or ten years. It was an internal hire. This statement is blatantly false and it frustrates me as to how some of you defend it as “not” an internal hire.

People will unfairly point out that Nix is 70

OK… So this guy is 70 years old… Which wouldn’t be a big deal, but considering NO ONE has provided him an oppurtunity in approximately 50 years to become a GM is relevant. Why would it take so long before someone realizes his potential. Furthermore, realistically speaking how long can this guy last for? GM’s are required to work long hours and diligently. This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where they work Jerry’s dad into quiting.

This was necessarily not a popularity contest.

OK, but winning breeds popularity… Let’s go through the list of “popular” guys… Cowher, Holmgren, Shanahan, Dungy, Parcells… Popular because they win! We hire unpopular guys who remain unpopular because they don’t win.

During his introductory press conference, Nix made it clear that he is a “build through the draft guy,” saying that he views free agency as a method to fill in positions that were not addressed in the draft with quality

Translation = OBD won’t be spending money next year, we will try to fill voids through the draft and with some b-list free agents. Don’t expect big moves which we need (i.e. QB, LT, etc.)

I am SOOO disappointed today. This was more than the proverbial two steps back the Bills take. This will continue the losing legacy. The fact that he still answers to Russ Brandon should make this crystal clear that we are in the same boat we were this year. Brandon has been promoted to CEO for what???? Doing a horrible job? Ralph Wilson, thanks for nothing!

I agree with some of this, primarily that having a GM is a step in the right direction (rocket science, I know), but let’s look at “age is just a number.” That’s a cliche that doesn’t serve reality. How often do people get promoted to the top of their profession at age 70? There’s a reason for that- the onset of dementia and overall physical decline, a perfectly natural part of the circle of life. Age will certainly factor into Nix’s regime and he’ll have to rely more heavily on those working under him and what you get is a slippery slope towards the dreaded inner circle. This hire is uninspiring on many levels and denying that is a little too P.C. in my opinion…Had Nix won a league-wide talent hunt, I’d be on board, but in absence of a true league-wide search, this move screams of Wilson once again, proving to be predictably irrational.

Why would anyone care that Nix is 70? It’s not as though his 40 time is central to his assigned responsibilities. My father is nearing 70 and still works like a maniac—not because he has to but because his career is one of his reasons for living.

While time will tell if Nix was the right hire, I’ve got to say that I’m delighted with the timing of the move. The Bills will not be fumbling about for most of January before really getting into the coaching search. As many as 4-6 head coaches could be fired on Monday. With them will go their entire coaching staffs, some of whom are talented coordinators who could be considered for a head coaching gig. Buffalo will be ready to chase them. Buffalo will also be ready to interview assistant coaches from playoff teams when those teams are eliminated from the playoffs and, if I recall correctly, the Bills can interview assistants on the two Super Bowl teams for a couple of days after the conference championships. Nix might not make everyone forget about Polian but he was at least hired in time to chase the top coaching talent.

Wilson has at least said that Nix will get the support he needs. As it relates to the coaching hire, Wilson has said that he’s willing to pay $10 million a year to the right candidate. If Nix can’t parlay that kind of cash into a superb head coach then we’ll know that he was a Donahoe-esque choice.

Nix has apparently been saying the sort of things that coaches want to hear—namely that the coaches will make the decisions on who plays QB. Coaches are control freaks by nature (and probably should be since they get all the blame with things go wrong) and top coaching talent tends to avoid places where they are being dictated to from above. Maybe Nix will promise to run interference with Wilson when coaches are being interviewed….

I loved a blub I saw in which Nix implied that Maybin could be a bust. Yes, he was saying that it would take 3 seasons to know if Maybin was a hit or a bust but Nix is at least willing to acknowledge that Maybin hasn’t shown any return on Buffalo’s investment. While it’s really just stating the obvious it also tells me that Nix isn’t worried about stepping on the toes of the guys who made the pick 8 months ago.

Though not flashy, I think that we need to see what he does in the next few weeks/months before we judge the man. I just listened to his press conference and boy with his down home demeanor he sounds a lot like Ross Perot.

I much prefer a guy with experience over an unproven rock star. I feel like the guy doesn’t need to prove anything and he knows exactly where to start. And like many of you have said, less chances of ego clashes. I must say the guy didn’t strike me as a mastermind but then again it’s football and basics are basics.

I know that Marty’s wife doesn’t want him coaching anymore but I think the chances of him coming out of retirement now have much improved. It does sound like he would prefer an experienced coach over promoting an un-proven coordinator.

I loved it when he started his press conference talking about the incredible rash of injuries that have struck this team in recent years and that it really was not normal and needed to be addressed. I never accepted the excuse that we simply were unlucky, I am happy that it seems to be high on his priority list.

When he spoke of Dielman, this is exactly what we need – a guy that understands football and potential. Like what we did with Peters, it’s important to have guys that understand talent and can recognize it when they see it and also understand that talent is developed and should continue to grow each year. three years of 7&9 and it always seemed like we were stuck in 2nd gear… I look forward to seeing what he can do!

…….. and I honestly like the guy. Old men do not pull punches nor care what anyone else thinks. Period. He will do what he thinks is right and fire anyone he does not like. Grumpy old men are not stupid.
I’m not worried about Brandon second guessing him. He won’t care what Brandon thinks and Ralph made it clear that he is the “football” guy.
I just hope his decisions are the right ones.

By the way, I love Ralph. He reminds me of my Pop-pop who passed on several years ago.

Heck, I didn’t even know that he was part of our team!But then I read the article and read up on the guy. All I really needed to know is that he helped build a winning team in the Chargers.

His expirience as assistant GM in San Diego will deffinatly help, and I think his age is a plus for when it comes to bringing in a top class coach. Coher and Schottenheimer have got to be in his sights.

Lets hope that we finally found the man that can turn the team around.

They guy sounds real good…….and I probably jumped the gun a bit…..he talks like someone who knows what has to be done…..

I still think the coach he hires will say more about the guy than what he’s said during the presser………..

But Im not nearly as disappointed as I was when I first heard and read up on the guy.

But whatever Im with this team no matter what they do…………..(except if they ever move to Toronto.

If this guy is such a great talent evaluator, how come he retired never having been a general manager? Also, how come his name never came up on here before today? I like his pedigree too, but it seems like we might be padding his credibility a bit when we say things like he’s considered an “elite talent evaluator.”

I’m up for heated debates and converstation, but some of the comments on here are getting pretty bad. I`m thinking that a lot of ppl should calm down, or else we`ll start looking like Eagles`fans after they signed Vick!

The announced process which gave rise to the Nix hire (we looked at some names and we didn’t know any of them) is as bad as it is unprofessional. This is management by cronyism, comfort and convenience. The GM position is one of the two most important positions, along with head coach. No professionally run organization would ever go about this important a decision in this manner. As a fan of 50 years I am never surprised when RW acts like an old fool. Nothing will change with the Bills’ approach so long as he is in control.
Oh yes, there was no more dysfunctional front office in football than the Smith – Marty Chargers (of which Mr. Nix was a part.)

per encylopedia Wiki

Nix came to the San Diego Chargers with John Butler and A. J. Smith from the Buffalo Bills where the three were instrumental in building the Bills into NFL contention through the NFL Draft. Butler had died during the Chargers rebuilding years, Smith was promoted to General Manager, and Nix to Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel.

Nix was employed by the Chargers from 1993 to 2000. Nix’s job with the Chargers was to oversee both pro and college scouting and to be one of the main decision makers in each NFL Draft. Nix was a major reason the Chargers turned around from a losing football team to a rebuilt, winning team. In 2004, three players Nix drafted were selected to the 2005 Pro Bowl. In 2005, six players Nix drafted were selected to the 2006 Pro Bowl. In 2006, eleven players Nix drafted were selected to the 2007 Pro Bowl. In 2007, eight players Nix drafted were selected to the 2008 Pro Bowl.

Nix is considered by some to be one of the top five talent evaluators in the NFL. The Chargers won four out of the last five AFC West titles with Nix as Assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel, in charge of college scouting and instrumental to the decision making process of their NFL drafts.